All sittings← 2018-11-212018-11-23 →
Thursday, November 22, 2018 · sitting No. 356
Government moves to end postal strike with back-to-work bill
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to government orders on legislation to resume and continue postal services. Bardish Chagger moved a motion to limit debate on the bill and refer it to a committee of the whole after second reading. Minister of Employment Patty Hajdu told the House that prolonged talks between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers had exhausted every option short of legislation.
Question period featured repeated Conservative attacks on the government's fiscal record. Alain Rayes said an $80-billion deficit left no credible path to balance, while Pierre Poilievre accused the Liberals of abandoning their platform pledge. Finance Minister Bill Morneau replied that the plan was delivering jobs and wage growth and that the debt-to-GDP ratio remained the strongest in the G7.
Decided that day
- Motion to proceed to Orders of the Day passed
- Bill C-89 introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
No CPAC Question Period upload is on file for this day. CPAC’s channel goes back to December 2019.
Who held the floor · 2018-11-22
50House Moves on Postal Bill, QP Mostly DeflectedThe sitting focused heavily on the Postal Services Resumption Act and Accessible Canada Act, with a bill introduced and one motion passed. Question period produced few direct answers while nine calls to order interrupted proceedings.AI-rated Score out of 100; the verdict and the answer ratings behind it are a model’s reading. How the AI rates this
AI-rated The sitting score and the rating of each answer come from a language model reading Hansard. How the AI rates this
Other moments
Accessible Canada Act
Alexander Nuttall said Bill C-81 lacked timelines and enforcement powers, citing stakeholder concerns that the bill remained deeply flawed after committee study. Kate Young countered that amendments had added both timelines and regulatory teeth.
Read the exchangeHousing
Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet said the fall economic statement ignored the worsening housing crisis in indigenous communities. Adam Vaughan replied that nearly one million homes had already been affected by new federal investments and that bilateral accords were now in place with territorial governments.
Read the exchangeOfficial Languages
René Arseneault asked how the government would support Franco-Ontarians after Ontario cuts to the French-language services commissioner and a planned university. Mélanie Joly said the Prime Minister had already denounced the measures and called on the Conservative leader to do the same.
Read the exchangeNational Defence
Richard Martel said buying used Australian F-18s would burden the Royal Canadian Air Force because of pilot and technician shortages. Harjit S. Sajjan replied that the aircraft would arrive in spring 2019 and that options were being prepared to keep CF-18s combat-capable until new jets arrive.
Read the exchangePrivacy
Peter Kent said Statistics Canada had demanded personal banking records from more than a million Canadians without consent and kept ministers in the dark. David Lametti answered that no data had been obtained and that the project would not proceed until privacy concerns were resolved.
Read the exchangeQuestion Period, exchange by exchange
AI-rated Each answer’s rating (answered, partly answered, deflected, answered something else) is a model’s reading of the exchange. How the AI rates this
- deflectedFinanceMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes their economic plan without addressing the timeline for balancing the budget.
we have a plan. Our plan is to invest in our country and our plan is working.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes their economic plan without providing any date for a balanced budget.
our plan is working. It is a well-thought-out plan, and it is clearly the right plan to improve our economy over the long term.
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner with textbook buzzwords instead of addressing the broken promise on deficits.
what I continue to hear from the member for Carleton are buzzwords from first-year economic textbooks.
- deflectedNews Media IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states support for a free press without giving any guarantee against using the fund for propaganda.
We have been very clear. We want to continue to ensure a strong and free press and we will do it in a way that is completely and totally independent from government.
- deflectedNews Media IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer calls the premise insulting without addressing how the panel will prevent bias or propaganda.
it is insulting to think that journalists can be bought off.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP for internal inconsistency instead of addressing the corporate gifts in the update.
it seems to me that members of the NDP should start talking to each other.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats job-creation talking points without addressing the corporate focus or Kevin Page criticism.
yesterday's fall economic update was very important for the middle class and for people who need a job.
- answeredCanada PostMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly explains the mediation steps already taken and the process in the legislation.
We have given them federal conciliation officers, mediators, a special mediator, whom we reappointed twice to get that deal.
- misdirectedCanada PostMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses mediation supports instead of addressing the direct comparison to Stephen Harper.
We have given them supports through federal mediation service.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the government's fiscal approach without stating when the budget will be balanced.
Our approach involves investing in Canada so that our economy can keep working, unemployment rates can stay very low, and Canadians across the country can have access to a future filled with opportunity.
- partly answeredNews Media IndustryMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Mr. Andy Fillmore (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains the rationale for media support but does not address the lack of support for Alberta energy workers.
This week we are taking action.
- misdirectedNews Media IndustryMr. Phil McColeman (Conservative) asked Mr. Andy Fillmore (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the question as a conspiracy theory rather than addressing the comparison to veterans support.
this conspiracy theory is insulting to the intelligence of Canadians and to the professionalism of journalists.
- partly answeredNews Media IndustryMr. Dean Allison (Conservative) asked Mr. David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer details steel and aluminum industry funding but does not address the media bailout or election-year timing.
We have committed up to $2 billion, including money through the strategic innovation fund and other funding so they can not only ride out this difficult period, but also invest in the kinds of technologies that will propel them into the future.
- misdirectedNews Media IndustryMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Andy Fillmore (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservative views on media instead of addressing support for farmers.
the Conservatives appear to have a real problem with journalists and the truth.
- misdirectedNews Media IndustryMichelle Rempel (Conservative) asked Mr. Andy Fillmore (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends journalistic independence without addressing the sequence of events linking Unifor and the bailout increase.
the Conservatives think that Canadian journalists can be bought and we certainly do not believe that.
- deflectedNews Media IndustryMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Mr. Andy Fillmore (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights consultations and delivery on the mandate but does not address why Google and Facebook face no new demands or taxes.
He has consulted with Canadian media and stakeholders to develop business models to support local journalism.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer highlights general economic gains but ignores the specific budget omissions and corporate tax breaks raised.
What has happened over the last three years is that the economic approach we have taken has made an enormous difference for Canadians.
- answeredDemocratic ReformMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly explains Bill C-76 measures on voting access, foreign interference, and debates.
With Bill C-76 we are putting in place safeguards to protect our elections from foreign interference.
- deflectedDemocratic ReformMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking the opposition's record instead of addressing the rigging and media funding claims.
that is ironic coming from the other side when it comes to our democracy.
- partly answeredPrivacyPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Mr. David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms no data was shared and privacy concerns will be addressed but does not engage with data ownership rights.
The project will not move forward until privacy concerns are addressed.
- deflectedPrivacyMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Mr. David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats legal protections without addressing the call to cancel the data collection program.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Mr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists housing investments but does not address the request for an immediate indigenous-specific strategy.
Fourteen thousand new affordable homes have been built or are under construction
- answeredHousingMs. Sheri Benson (NDP) asked Mr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms upcoming legislation for a rights-based housing framework and notes new indigenous programs.
we will be legislating a rights-based framework to make sure that Canadians get the housing they need when they need it.
- answeredNational DefenceMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the purchase as meeting operational needs and announces the signed agreement.
Today, I can announce that we have signed the agreement with Australia and I look forward to receiving these planes in the spring of 2019.
- misdirectedNational DefenceMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the prior Conservative government instead of addressing the query on canceling the deal.
The Auditor General's report confirms something we have always known, that the Conservatives mismanaged this file and misled Canadians for a decade, with no fighters to show for it.
- deflectedJusticeMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). substantive question.The answer invokes sub judice to avoid naming anyone and accuses the asker of smears.
the nefarious implications in the tone of that question are exactly the reason why this House has a rule about not discussing matters that are sub judice
- deflectedJusticeMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). substantive question.The answer again cites sub judice and references a past MP rather than providing the requested name.
A court proceeding is there to determine the rights of Canadians according to law and according to evidence, and the courts will do their job.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Jane Philpott (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and states work is underway but gives no timeline or specific action.
I am happy to report to the member opposite that we are actively working across the country, including with our provincial and territorial partners, with agencies that work in medical education, with doctors' associations, to make sure this is very clear.
- answeredHousingMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states immediate contact with the housing authority and notes signed bilateral accords.
I am pleased to say, and will make this point very clear, that the minister in charge has asked CMHC to immediately get in touch with the Nunavut housing authority.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to demanding the Conservatives' climate plan instead of addressing the third link.
However, for over 200 days now, I have been wondering what the Conservative Party plans to do about climate change.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMr. Alupa Clarke (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.The answer again shifts to asking about the Conservatives' climate plan rather than stating a position on the third link.
what Canadians would like to know is whether the Conservatives are for or against fighting climate change.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMrs. Sylvie Boucher (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the third-link question and pivots to listing the government's climate measures.
I am always happy to stand up and talk about our climate change plan.
- deflectedInfrastructureMs. Sylvie Boucher (Conservative) asked Mr. Doug Eyolfson (Liberal). substantive question.The response agrees on general principles but provides no specific update on Manitoba work as requested.
As the Minister of Indigenous Services has said previously, the path forward includes first nations control of first nations education.
- partly answeredHealthMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer mentions a website for reporting shortages but does not address why the minister failed to secure medications.
As part of our mandatory drug shortage reporting regulations, we launched a third-party website, and that is drugshortagescanada.ca.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The response expresses solidarity but avoids explaining why the Prime Minister has not called Doug Ford.
The Prime Minister has been clear in denouncing the cuts.
- misdirectedCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the previous Harper government instead of addressing the Auditor General's concerns about CRA treatment of tax dodgers versus regular Canadians.
I have no lessons to learn from the Conservatives.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). substantive question.The response claims benefits for the whole country but does not address the lack of specific support for Quebec priorities like health.
Our measures are benefiting every sector and every part of the country.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer focuses on general economic growth without addressing the refusal to increase health transfers to Quebec.
Our investments are important for Canada and Quebec.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.The response highlights new incentives and a committee but does not commit to a specific path for the 1.5 degree target.
We introduced incentives for solar and wind power.
- answeredBusiness of the HouseCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly lists the planned business for the House in the coming days as requested.